Cloutman-Green, E;
Barbosa, VL;
Jimenez, D;
Wong, D;
Dunn, H;
Needham, B;
Ciric, L;
(2019)
Controlling Legionella pneumophila in water systems at reduced hot water temperatures with copper and silver ionization.
American Journal of Infection Control
10.1016/j.ajic.2018.12.005.
(In press).
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Abstract
Background: Hospital-acquired Legionnaires’ disease is associated with the presence of Legionella pneumophila in hospital water systems. In the United Kingdom, the Department of Health recommends maintaining hot water temperatures >55°C and cold water temperatures <20°C at the point of delivery to prevent proliferation of L pneumophila in water systems. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of copper and silver ionization to control L pneumophila at deliberately reduced hot water temperatures (43°C) within a newly installed water system in a new building linked to a large health care facility in the United Kingdom. / Methods: One thousand, five hundred ninety-eight water samples were collected between September 2011 and June 2017. Samples were tested using accredited methods for L pneumophila, copper and silver ion levels, and total viable counts. Energy consumption and water usage data were also collected to permit carbon emission calculations. / Results: The results of 1,598 routine samples from September 2011 to June 2017, and the recordings of temperatures at outlets in this facility, demonstrated effective (100%) L pneumophila control throughout the study period with an average hot water temperature of 42°C. The energy savings and reduction of carbon emissions were calculated to amount to 33% and 24%, respectively, compared to an equivalent temperature-controlled system. Water system management interventions were required to achieve consistently adequate levels of copper and silver across outlets. / Conclusions: This study demonstrated that it is possible to control L pneumophila independent of temperature when copper and silver ionization is introduced into a new building in conjunction with an appropriately managed water system.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Controlling Legionella pneumophila in water systems at reduced hot water temperatures with copper and silver ionization |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.12.005 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2018.12.005 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2018 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) |
| Keywords: | Health care, Environment, Infection prevention and control, Water management, Engineering control |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Civil, Environ and Geomatic Eng |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10063359 |
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